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District’s new chief academic officer must retire in a year and a half

Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Wayne Gent announced yesterday that he is replacing current Chief Academic Officer Janis Andrews with a new pick — Cheryl Alligood, principal of Jupiter High School.

Cheryl Alligood. Palm Beach Post file photo.

Gent said he wanted to do a direct appointment instead of advertising for the chief academic officer position because he said he knew Alligood’s “ability and skill set” were a good match.

What he did not mention to the Palm Beach Post on Thursday is that Alligood, 64, can only serve the school district in that capacity for a little less than a year and a half.

Alligood entered the Deferred Retirement Enrollment Plan on Nov. 1, 2009, according to the school district. That means that, unless she is willing to forfeit her accrued DROP payout and benefits, she will need to retire on Oct. 31, 2014.

Of course, Andrews, whom Alligood is replacing, is also in DROP. She is scheduled to retire Feb. 28, 2015.

District spokesman Nat Harrington said there are a number of district employees in DROP, and that “they would want to contribute to their last day, and we want them to contribute fully until their last day.”

School board chairman Chuck Shaw also said he didn’t have concerns about Alligood’s retirement date.

“That will give the superintendent a chance to begin to groom someone long-term,” Shaw said today. “I think Cheryl Alligood is an unbelievable person. She’ll do a great job.”

What do you think of Gent’s decision to have Alligood step into this role? Sound off in the comments below.